Driven To Abstraction

Driven To Abstraction

Workshops | This program has been canceled

585 Park Street Naples, FL 34102 United States

Studio 206

Beginner-Intermediate

2/17/2020-2/19/2020

9:00 AM-4:00 PM on Mon Tue Wed

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$345.00

$295.00

Discover the joy and freedom of abstract painting in pastels. Pastels are immediate and tactile with instant results! Explore principles of composition, how to tint your paper, designing your painting, choosing the right pastels for the job, mark making and how & where you can find inspiration. We will explore colors that work, internet apps that can help you, and insider tips and tricks. Learn about lost and found edges that engage the viewer and enhance the focal point. We will see methods to mount your pastel paper and then frame your gorgeous painting!

  • PASTELS
  • Pastels come in HARD, MEDIUM AND SOFT. You will eventually want at least a set of Hard and Soft. Remember in pastels, unlike watercolor or oil paints, you cannot ‘mix’ colors, you have to HAVE THE COLOR. That’s why I have sooooo many.
  • Some good sets that are very inexpensive are the NUPASTEL sets. You can actually get them reasonably priced at Michaels with a 50% coupon. However, they are mostly used for the ‘underpainting’ or very first layer. You can also get Rembrandt pastels for a hard pastel set at Michaels.
  • Next you need something softer. Listed are the soft pastel sets from least expensive to most expensive, choose ONE of the following:
  • Sennelier half sticks. The beginning sets are Limited in colors but offer a nice smooth stroke.
  • MUNGYO Hand Rolled sold exclusively at Jerry’s Artarama. They have FULL SETS that are fabulous for a couple hundred dollars OR you can pick individual colors. The sets are good since they come in wood boxes.
  • BLUE EARTH, sold exclusively at DAKOTA. They too are sold individually, however the sets come in fantastic boxes that allow you to carry them around. They are more expensive; small sets are in the $300 range and the full set is just under $1000. They are brilliant for the new pastelist because they come organized by hue and value and that makes it easier to pick the right stick for the job.
  • DAKOTA also sells several pastel sample sets for you to just try different brands.
  • GREAT AMERICAN AND RICHESON are also good pastels. Medium to very soft.
  • When you know you really LOVE pastels you can invest in Terry Ludwig for about $2000 or Schmincke for the same amount. Now that’s if you want FULL SETS! Truly not necessary, but a wonderful to work with!!! Dakota sells individual sticks of every pastel made.
  • So, until you know what you want and if you like working in pastels, you can buy a sample pack of Uart or just get the Uart 9x12 320 grit. Then get Sennelier half stick set and a hard pastel set like NuPastel or Rembrandt.
  • The other supplies are:
  • • Sketchbook and markers or pens and pencils for Notans.
  • • Old nylon paintbrushes
  • • Rubbing alcohol and cup/container
  • • Backer board to put painting on
  • • Tape to adhere paper to backer board or clips or mounted paper.
  • • Tracing paper or glassine to protect your painting once you’re finished and for transport.
  • • Paper towels.
  • • Optional hand protection either in the form of ‘Gloves in a Bottle’ or latex gloves or Baby Wipes to wash hands.
  • Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact me: laurapollak.artist@gmail.com
Pollak, Laura

Laura Pollak was born in Detroit Michigan and has always had an affinity to the arts; studying ballet, piano and art. Her Master of Arts from Michigan State University and post graduate work at Center for Creative Studies included many painting classes as well as Graphic Design. The latter led her to a career in Advertising at some of the largest Agencies in the world on clients as Sears, Nortel, Kraft, Kodak and General Motors. Laura and her husband moved to North Carolina in 1985 and she started her own successful ad agency with clients around the State and Northeast. Painting became her main career 10 years ago and she is now a full time professional artist. Laura has put on 6 Solo Exhibits and has won awards in several venues. Her works are in International Juried Shows and Galleries and Museums across the nation. Recently, she won the top award in the International Bold Brush Award in Abstracts sponsored by Fine Art Studios Online. Pollak won First Place in the Pastel Society of North Carolina's Statewide Show as well as acclaim in the very prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies and the Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Shows [with a published article] and the Pastel Society of America In NYC. In November of 2019, her work will be published in the Hardcover book of STROKES OF GENIUS, available worldwide. “I can remember the greatest gift my parents gave me at the age of 4 was the Crayola Crayon set of 72 colors! I have been enthralled with color ever since. I’m fascinated with light and shadow patterns. I try to imbue all my paintings [whether abstract or representational] with a source of light to make them glow from within. I often say that these paintings are like good works of fiction; bits of reality infused with imagination. Where you the viewer will finish the story." Much of her inspiration comes from travel and especially from scuba diving.